In honor of the 100-year anniversary of Jacob Lawrence's birth, we are pleased to present Utopia Neighborhood Club, a series of highly-participatory exhibitions and programs meant to generate ideas about the Gallery's potential new space and future mission. As a young teen, Jacob Lawrence took some of his first art classes at Utopia Neighborhood Club, an organization that provided social services to the underserved in Harlem during the early part of the 20th-century.

Drawn from the holdings of the UW Campus Art Collection — including works on loan from the Washington State Arts Commission — as well as the collections of Francine Seders and the School of Art + Art History + Design, this exhibition represents a unique effort to showcase the work of one of the University’s historically preeminent professors and change-agents. Lawrence came to Seattle to teach at the University in 1970 after an already-illustrious, barrier-shattering career in the arts. He was a Professor in the School until 1985, and he served as Professor Emeritus until his death in 2000. The exhibition highlights Lawrence’s mastery of various printmaking techniques and includes: The Legend of John Brown (1977), a 22-part serigraph series depicting the life and contribution of the important abolitionist; etchings from The Builder’s Suite (1996); and numerous stand-alone works including lithographs like Artist in Studio (1994), and Man on Scaffold (1985).

Visit the link below for information about how you can participate in the Utopia Neighborhood Club series and additional events.